A Magistrates Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state has sentenced a labourer, Peter Jude, to two years imprisonment for s@xually assaulting a 2-year-old girl.
The court also ordered that the convict should be flogged for two days.
Jude, aged 40, was said to have committed the offence on July 14, 2024, at Dele Ojo Camp, at Uso, Owo Local Government Area of the state.
He was caught on top of the toddler after he already discharged semen on her vagina.
Jude pleaded guilty to the one count charge of indecent s@xual assault and begged the court for forgiveness, attributing his actions to the devil.
The prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso informed the court that Jude was employed as a labourer by the victim’s father to work in his farm.
He said the offence contravenes Section 3(1) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibitions ) Law 2021.
“The mother of the victim detected that there was fluid of semen on her baby’s vagina when he met the defendant on top of her," the prosecutor said.
"The defendant was living with the victim’s father. He carried the baby to the room when she was asleep. He pulled down his shorts and tried to penetrate the vagina of the baby. But in the process discharged on her
"When arrested, the defendant was transferred to the Gender-Based Unit of the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID), for thorough investigation where he was charged and cautioned.
“The baby was, thereafter, taken to the State Reference Hospital for medical check-up, where a report was issued and she was subsequently charged.”
Presiding Magistrate, Mrs B.A Alphonso, convicted the accused and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with hard labour.
“Taking the prevalence of the offence, the court has to set an example to serve as a deterrent to others,” Mrs. Alphonso said.
“The defendant is hereby, sentenced to two calendar years with hard labour and he should be whipped for two days.”
0 comments